Low Test Scores And Acc Rules Have Kept Fabian Walker From Playing For Fsu.

Right now, with three scrimmages and plenty of two-a-day practices scrimmages scheduled before the Seminoles' Sept. 1 season opener at Duke, only one thing is certain.

Fabian Walker won't play the position for the Seminoles this year.

"I think about it each and every day," Walker said Sunday. "If I was able to play, would I be able to help this team out?"

He almost would certainly be in the mix.

Walker, 20, first signed with FSU after his senior season at Americus High in Georgia, where he set state records for career passing yards and touchdowns.

So much has happened since then.

Here is the abridged version: Walker's standardized test scores prevented him from enrolling at FSU with the rest of his recruiting class in 1999. He thought he had passed the exam that fall and started college in early 2000. He even participated in the Seminoles' spring drills and annual Garnet & Gold Game.

But the NCAA Clearinghouse disallowed his qualifying score. So, Walker went to Jones County (Miss.) Junior College, where he recently earned his associate of arts degree over two semesters and summer school.

"I just buckled down and made sure that I'd get back here," Walker said.

Because of an Atlantic Coast Conference rule pertaining to transfers who spend one year at a junior college, Walker cannot play this season, although he can redshirt and still will have three years of eligibility remaining.

He will become eligible to practice with the team on Wednesday afternoon.

"Dadgummit, it seems like every time he turns around somebody says, `Don't do this,' " said FSU Coach Bobby Bowden.

Yet, for this year at least, it didn't have to be this way. Walker could have signed with a non-ACC school and been eligible to play this season.

"I know I probably could have gone to any other conference and maybe had a chance to compete for a starting job or play," Walker said. "Florida State, they've been behind me 100 percent in everything I've done. When I didn't qualify, they were there. I just really appreciate them just being there for me. This is the place where I've always wanted to play."